Carton opening device



Dec. 27, 1966 N, M, OLNEY 3,293,673

CARTON OPENING DEVI CE Filed July 31, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR NA THAN/EL M. OLIVE) BY 2M2, M

A TTORNE V Dec. 27, 1966 N M OLNEY CARTON OPENING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 31, 1964 I INVENTOR NATHAN/EL M OLNEY 1 WM Mk ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,293,673 CARTON GPENING DEVICE Nathaniel M. ()lney, New York, N.Y., assignor to Swingline, he, Long Island City, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed July 31, 1964, Ser. No. 386,721 4 Claims. (Cl. 7-5.4)

This invention relates to a carton opening device having particular application to opening of paper and fiber cartons which are secured in closed relationship by means of staples.

In the co-pending applicaion, Serial No. 340,962, filed January 29, 1964, now abandoned, a disclosure is made of a staple removing device which is particularly adapted to remove the relatively heavy staples that are conven tionally utilized to secure cartons in closed position.

Unfortunately the prior device has no provision for opening cartons which are secured together by tape or other adhesive materials. Since conventionally certain cartons are in existence which are secured together by both staples and tape the device of the prior invention was not completely satisfactory. If the device were utilized to remove the staples the tape, particularly if the type of tape containing embedded cords was used, would still secure the carton in closed position. Hence time delays and other difliculties would ensue.

In the device of the instant invention cutting means are provided thereupon in addition to staple removing means. Hence, in opening a carton of the type set forth hereinabove, the operator utilizes the device to remove the staples and then actuates the cutting means to remove the tape. Both types of removing elements are upon the same device so that the operation is extremely rapid and satisfactory. Means are further provided to retract the cutting means and render them inoperative during the period that they are not required.

The above constitutes a brief description of the instant invention and the objects and advantages thereof.

The invention will be further described by reference to the accompanying drawings which are made a part of this specification. In this connection, however, the reader is advised that the specific forms of the invention shown herein are for illustrative purposes and for purposes of example only. Various changes and modifications may obviously be made within the spirit and scope thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a device made in accordance with the instant invention with the jaw members thereof in open position and the cutting means in retracted position.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 but with the jaw members in closed position and the cutting means in extended position.

FIG. 3 is a detail side elevational view of the shield member including a portion of the second locking means which are utilized to lock the cutting means in either extended or retracted position.

FIG. 4 is a detail side elevational view of the blade member and the carrier member which comprise the cutting means of the instant invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the structure shown in FIG. 3 taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the structure shown in FIG. 3 taken along lines 66 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 but with the actuator of the second locking means in depressed position.

The invention will now be described in detail by specific reference to the form thereof shown in the accompanying drawings Which represents the best mode known to the inventor of taking advantage of the invention disclosed herein.

The device 11 of this invention is formed wtih a first jaw 12 and a second jaw 13. laws 12 and 13 are inwardly and pivotally movable and are connected together by pin 14. A spring member (not shown) is disposed about pin 14 and is formed with a pair of outwardly extending arm members which are operatively connected to jaws 12 and 13 and normally hold these jaws in outward relationship. The structure described herein is shown in the patent application set forth hereinabove in this specification.

Jaw 12 is formed with a support portion 15 and a pair of spaced prong members 16 (one of the prong members upon each jaw not being shown). I aw 13 is formed with a support portion 17 and a pair of spaced prong members 18 (one of the prong members not being shown). Support portion 15 is also formed with a front portion 19 and a plurality of side portions 20 (one of the side portions not being shown) while support portion 17 is formed with a front portion 21 and a plurality of side portions 22 (one of the side portions not being shown). Rivets 23 and 24 secure the respective prong portion. to the support portion.

Handle member 25 is secured to support portion 17 of jaw 13 by rivets 26 and handle portion 27 is secured to support portion 15 of jaw 12 by rivets 28. Support portions 15 and 17 are angularly oifset in structure.

A link member 29 is secured to handle 27 by ring 30 and is removably securable to handle 25 by hook 31. Thus if link 29 is secured to hook 31 handles 25 and 27 and jaws 12 and 13 are locked in closed position.

A shield member 32 is secured to a side portion 20 of 4 support member 15. Shield 32 has an offset spaced part 33 thereupon. A carrier member 34 is provided with a pair of spaced recesses 35 and a handle portion 36. Member 34 also has pin 14 passing therethrough and is provided with a plurality of openings 38. Openings 38 register with adjacent openings provided within blade 39 and screw members 40 normally secure blade 39 to carrier 34. Rivet 24 and ear 41 secure shield. 32 in osition.

The second locking means of this invention consist of a slidably movable actuator 42 which is disposed within a slideway contained within overlying portion 43 -which in turn is secured to member 32 by rivets 44. Actuator 42 is adapted to selectively engage openings 35. Actuator 42 is normally maintained in the non-depressed position shown in FIG. 3 by spring 45 which is operatively connected to actuator 42 as shown in FIG. 5.

With the foregoing specific description the operation of this invention will now be explained.

If the device is utilized to remove staples from a carton link 29 is removed from hook 31, blade member 39 is in retracted position shown in FIG. 1 and the: device is operated merely by squeezing handles 25 and 27 together. When it is desired to cut the tape securing the carton together handles 25 and 27 are squeezed together and link 29 engaged with hook 31. Actuator 42 is then depressed and blade 39 pivotted about pin 37 to the position shown in FIG. 2. The device now may be used to cut the tape. When the device is no longer desired to be utilized for cutting purposes actuator 42 is depressed and handle 36 pivotted to put blade 39 in its normal retracted position.

When blade 39 becomes dull it can be easily replaced by aligning a screw 38 with one of the openings 46 provided Within member 32. The screw 38 can then be removed and blade 39 pulled forwardly so as to slide out away from pin 37 as shown by the arrow in FIG. 4. A new blade can then be inserted by reversing the process.

The foregoing illustrates the manner in which the objects of this invention are achieved.

I claim:

1. A carton opening device adapted to unseal both staple and tape closures comprising a first jaw and a second jaw, said jaws being inwardly and pivotally movable and selectively disposable beneath the crown portion of a staple, each jaw carrying a support portion and a pair of spaced prong members thereupon, the support portion of said first jaw having a front portion and a side portion, a shield member upon said side portion, and a retractable blade member pivotally carried between said shield portion and said side portion, said blade member adapted to cut a tape closure of a carton when in extended position.

2. A carton opening device adapted to unseal both staple and tape closures comprising a first jaw and a second jaw, said jaws being inwardly and pivotally movable and selectively disposable beneath the crown portion of a staple, each jaw carrying a support portion and a pair of spaced prong members thereupon, the support portion of said first jaw having a front portion and a side portion, a shield member carried by said side portion having an offset spaced part thereupon, a retractable blade member pivotally carried between said side portion and said shield portion and within said offset spaced part, said blade member adapted to cut a tape closure of a carton when in extended position, and locking means operatively connected with said blade to lock said blade in extended or in retracted position.

3. A carton opening device adapted to unseal both staple and tape closures comprising a first jaw and a second jaw, said jaws being inwardly and pivotally movable and selectively disposable beneath the crown portion of a staple, a spring member disposed between said jaws and normally biasing said jaws outwardly, each of said jaws carrying a projecting handle member, a support portion and a pair of spaced prong members thereupon, first locking means upon said handle members adapted to hold said members and the jaws connected thereto in closed position, the support portion upon said first jaw having a front portion and a side portion, a shield member carried by said side portion having an oifset spaced part thereupon, a retractable blade member pivotally carried between said side portion and said shield portion and within said offset spaced part, said blade member adapted to cut a staple closure of a carton when in extended position, and second locking means operatively connected with said blade to look said blade in extended or in retracted position.

4. A carton opening device adapted to remove both staple and tape closures comprising a first jaw and a second jaw, said jaws being inwardly and pivotally movable and selectively disposable beneath the crown portion of a staple, a spring member disposed between said jaws and normally biasing said jaws outwardly, each of said jaws carrying a first longitudinally projecting handle member a support portion and a pair of spaced prong members thereupon, first locking means upon said handle members adapted to hold said members and the jaws connected thereto in closed position, the support portion upon said first jaw having a front portion and a side portion, a shield member carried by said side portion having an oflset spaced part thereupon, a carrier member provided with a pair of recesses pivotally supported be tween said side portion and said shield portion and within said offset spaced part, a second handle member upon said carrier member, a retractable blade member c0nnected to said carrier member, said blade member adapted to cut a tape closure of a carton when in extended position, and second locking means upon said shield member operatively connected with said blade to lock said blade in either extended or retracted position, said lastnamed locking means comprising an outwardly movable actuator adapted to selectively fit within said recesses when in inward position and spring means operatively connected with said actuator normally biasing it inwardly.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CARTON OPENING DEVICE ADAPTED TO UNSEAL BOTH STAPLE AND TAPE CLOSURES COMPRISING A FIRST JAW AND A SECOND JAW, SAID JAWS BEING INWARDLY AND PIVOTALLY MOVABLE AND SELECTIVELY DISPOSABLE BENEATH THE CROWN PORTION OF A STAPLE, EACH JAW CARRYING A SUPPORT PORTION AND A PAIR OF SPACED PRONG MEMBERS THEREUPON, THE SUPPORT PORTION OF SAID FIRST JAW HAVING A FRONT PORTION AND A SIDE PORTION, A SHIELD MEMBER UPON SAID SIDE PORTION, AND A RETRACTABLE BLADE MEMBER PIVOTALLY CARRIED BETWEEN SAID SHIELD PORTION AND SAID SIDE PORTION, SAID BLADE MEMBER ADAPTED TO CUT A TAPE CLOSURE OF A CARTON WHEN IN EXTENDED POSITION. 